(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced that traffic will be shifted to the newly constructed Route 1&9T southbound viaduct, and three new ramps will be opened in Jersey City, Hudson County.

This Friday night, February 18, NJDOT will shift all Route 1&9T southbound motorists to the newly constructed section of the viaduct between Tonnelle Avenue and the Charlotte Circle and close off the old roadway for demolition. At the same time three new connector ramps will be opened to traffic, providing new traffic patterns throughout the area. The new traffic patterns are expected to be in place by Saturday morning, February 19.

The $250 million federally funded project is replacing the Routes 1&9 viaduct over St. Paul's Avenue with a new structure on a new alignment north of the present structure. The existing Route 1&9 viaduct was constructed in 1928 and is structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.

Construction operations at this time are focused on the new Route 1&9T northbound roadway and the new Route 1&9T northbound flyover bridge over the Tonnelle Circle.

NJDOT is building new approach roads to safely connect to Route 1&9T, Route 7, Pulaski Skyway, Route 139, Route 1&9 north of Tonnelle Circle and local streets in Jersey City. The project will provide a more continuous flow of traffic and safer connections to the roadways that form a vital link to this region's transportation network. Construction completion is anticipated in spring 2013.

NJDOT will employ Variable Message Signs to inform motorists of the new traffic patterns. Real time travel and construction information is available online at www.511nj.org